Heater for hot-water systems for railway cars



Aug. 27, 1929- B. A. KEELER' ET AL HEATER FOR HOT WATER SYSTEMS FOR RAILWAY CARS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 10, 1927 B. A. KEELER ET AL 1,725,924

. Filed Nov. 10, 1921 2 Shets-She'et 2 3 w wing I IP 5 AM Aug. 27, 1929- HEATER FOR HOT WATER SYSTEMS FOR RAILWAY CARS Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUBRELL A. KEELER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, AND JOSEPH FRUMVELLER, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO VAPOR OAR EEATING' COMPANY, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HEATER FOR HOT-WATER, SYSTEMS FOR RAILWAY CARS.

Application filed November 10, 1927. Serial No. 232,413.

Our invention relates to hot water heating systems for railway cars in which the water circulated through the heating coils or other form of radiator in the car is heated by a coal stove or heater. It is a matter of necessity in cold weather, in order to prevent freezing up of the water pipes and in ury to the car to keep up the fires in the stoves when the cars are out of service. This, however, involves a very great inconvenience and it frequently happens that the fires are not maintained. The object of our invention is to provide an improved water heater for hot water systems of this type which heats the water with a coal fire while the car is in service, as has been customary, but is pro vided with means whereby the water of the heating system may be heated and kept in circulation by means of steam taken from a stationary steam supply pipe, or other conveniently placed source of supply of steam, when the car is out of service and is standing in a train yard or shed. The arrangements of our invention may be utilized in connection with single cars or trains of cars, propelled either by a steam locomotive or electricity or otherwise.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a car provided with the heater of our invention with the connections whereby steam is circulated through a steam heating device in the water space of the heater; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view'of the heater and adjacent parts of the car body.

Referring to the drawing, designates a passenger car provided with a hot water radiator or heating coil 11 and with a heater 12. 13 is the usual expansion tank arranged on the roof of the car and connected by pipes 14; with the heater and by pipe 15 with the radiating coil. The heater comprises an outer shell 16, and an inner shell 17 which provide together a water jacket or space 18. The pipes 14% lead from the top of the water jacket to the expansion tank. The water from the radiator 11 is returned to the bot tom of the water jacket 18 by pipe 19. The shells 16, 17 are arranged on a base 20 which supports a grate 21, the space within the inner shell 17 and above the grate 21 constituting a fire box which is provided with a smoke flue 22. The fuel door is indicated at 23 and the ash-pit door at 24:.

WVhen the car is in service the water of the radiating system is heated by a fire maintained on grate 21. In order to keep up the circulation of hot water through the car when the car is out of service and standing in a train yard, for example, without the inconvenience of maintaining the fire in the combustion chamber in the heater, a steam coil 25 is arranged in the water space 18. The coil 25 is connected at its upper end to a pipe 26 which extends down through the floor of the car and is provided with a suitable union 27 through which a flexible hose 28 may be attached which is connected with a steam supply pipe, preferably to a branch pipe 29 from a steam main 30 which is extended along the track on which this and other cars stand when out of service. Branch pipe 29 may be provided with a valve 31. The lower end of steam coil 25 is connected to a pipe 32 which also extends down through the flooring of the car and is provided with a union 83 for a hose or other suitable connection 34 leading, preferably, to a steam trap 35 in a branch pipe 36 of a pipe 37 for carrying off the condensate, or if desired, the trap 35 may discharge water of condensation upon the ground.

It will be understood that pipe 80, and pipe 37, when employed, will be provided at intervals with connections like those described ior serving other cars that may be standing on the track.

The steam introduced into the steam coil 25 may be regulated in any desired manner.

We claim:

In combination with a stationary steam supply pipe and steam trap, a railway car having a hot water radiator, a water heater in the car provided with a combustion chamber and a water space, a steam coil in the water space, inlet and return pipes leading from the opposite ends of the coil through the flooring oi the car and flexible pipe connections leading from the inlet and return pipes and detachably engageable with said stationary steam supply pipe and steam trap respectively for permitting the circulation of steam through the steam coil.

BURRELL A. KEELER. JOSEPH FRUMVELLER. 

